Book: Applying Lean in Healthcare—A Collection of International Case Studies

(CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL) -- Covering health care from clinical to nutritional services, Applying Lean in Healthcare: A Collection of International Case Studies (CRC Press, 2010), published April 15, introduces key concepts of lean health care and presents real-life examples to illustrate the practical benefits—which include more efficient processes, increased patient satisfaction, and cost savings—that can result from a lean philosophy.

Editors, Joe Aherne and John Whelton, blend theory, case studies, and practical tips while maintaining the international perspectives from the firsthand accounts of lean implementations, challenges, and how they were overcome. A number of expert contributors offer practical tips. The foreword is by the eminent psychiatry professor, Dr. Jeffrey Clothier.

“Many health care professionals are frustrated by the disappointing quality and the waste in our health care systems. Patients pay for this directly or through taxation and a worrying number with their lives. This book binds together the philosophy that revolutionized the safety and quality of the motor industry with practical examples from the pioneers in health care. Through examples big and small, they share their learning of the problem-solving techniques and more important, the fundamental change in their beliefs and behaviors that brought about change for the benefit of colleagues and patients. This is a book for those keen to join in and learn for themselves from those who are learning, too,” says Dr. Kate Silvester, program leader for enquiry into patient flow, cost, and quality—a collaboration between The Health Foundation and The National Health Service.

“For organizations looking for ideas as they embark on their lean journey, these case studies provide wonderful examples and an opportunity to take a glimpse into the many possibilities of lean. These case studies move beyond the theory of lean and illustrate how lean translates into simple actions that are capable of effecting positive change,” says Colleen Kennedy of Leader Physician Engagement, in British Columbia, Canada.

“Northern Health has recently embarked on its lean journey. The case studies provided in this book provide relevant examples that are useful and informative for organizations like ours that are implementing lean principles and methodology. It provides examples of actual implementation strategies and solutions to change management issues in applying lean,” says Bonnie Urquhart, director of strategic initiatives and project support at Northern Health Authority, in British Columbia, Canada.

“This publication is a must buy for any health care professional interested in delivering improvement opportunities. It highlights relevant and insightful examples from other health care organizations that have benefited from lean thinking. The book will help you and your colleagues to better understand lean in health care and benefit from the experiences of those who provide patient care in an international health care context,” says Eamon Counihan, quality coordinator at Bon Secours Health System, in Ireland.

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